Embrace the power of cold exposure for optimal health and wellness
Believe it or not, my cold plunge journey began in a sauna at the corporate gym located at the company headquarters of a Fortune 500 semiconductor company in Boise, ID. For the better part of a decade, from 2006 to 2018, I had access to a fully-featured fitness center, complete with a sauna, and used the sauna as much as my schedule allowed.
At some point, during awkward but enlightening sauna discussions with other zealots, I was introduced to Dr. Rhonda Patrick from FoundMyFitness.com. She had podcasts and actual science detailing what I already knew. Sauna’s were an awesome supplement to a multi-faceted fitness regimen.
1000+ Days of Cold
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Northwest in March of 2020 I became curious about ways to boost my immune system. I had acquired a small infrared sauna to get heat exposure, but I wondered if there were ways to prepare my immune system for an imminent infection. This was before fancy mRNA vaccines or any mutations in the COVID-19 virus. I wanted to prepare my body for the stresses of a new virus in the hopes of defeating COVID-19 or anything else coming my way.
As I read books and talked to friends about options, the Wim Hof Method came up in three directions. So, in the spring of 2020, I started taking cold showers. Later that year, in December of 2020, I got his book and remember reading it on a romantic weekend retreat while my wife got her birthday massage at the spa.
The Wim Hof Method is a book that explores the life and teachings of extreme athlete Wim Hof, also known as “The Iceman.” The book delves into his unique method of controlling the mind and body through cold exposure, breathing techniques, and meditation. Through personal anecdotes and scientific research, Hof explains how his method can improve physical health, enhance mental clarity, and increase overall well-being. Additionally, he discusses the importance of reconnecting with nature and finding harmony within oneself. Overall, this book offers insight into the power of our minds to control our bodies for optimal performance and inner balance.
I always try to find peace in discomfort because I want to learn how to stay cool under pressure. When I heard about ice baths, I was interested because the idea of getting into something very painful that also helps with healing intrigued me.
As time went on, I started to talk to more people about cold exposure and its benefits for immunity, reducing inflammation, and mental health. I reasoned from Hof’s logic that our circulatory system and our vasculature don’t get the workout that they did when the world was less climate-controlled. Imagine a world without HVAC; shoot without houses for that matter. The idea of doing something uncomfortable to force a workout on my body’s vasculature resonated with me.
During the pandemic, I continued to take cold showers and have gotten in the coldest water I could find daily for nearly 3 years now. With over 1000 cold water sessions under my belt, I’ve cultivated a real sense of joy in the journey.
Cold Plunge Culture is meant to be a resource for those interested in being briefly uncomfortable to activate dormant systems within our bodies. Let’s share in the multi-faceted goodness available to those who consistently strive to unlock their fitness and wellness potential.
Here’s to living our best, healthiest, and most prolific lives!
Cheers, Matt
A few of our favorite plunges
